Visual Resources for the Lectionaries

This post offers visual resources for the Revised Common Lectionary and the Narrative Lectionary for February 22, 2026. Use this chart for quick links to the texts and the resource pages on cartoonistbible.com.

Lent 1

CLICK HERE to jump to the Narrative Lectionary Resources

Revised Common Lectionary Resources

Gospel Reading – Matthew 4:1-11

This image is from page 3 in A Cartoonist’s Guide to Matthew

We have five Sundays in Lent. The RCL takes us back to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, when the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness for 40 days and nights and then the Devil tempted him. The readings give us an opportunity to explore the theme of temptation and atonement. The Gospel gives an opportunity to set up some key aspects of the Lenten journey.

• It is 40 days. This is a significant number in Hebrew history and theology.
• It is about fasting and prayer.
• It is about preparation for ministry.
• It is about getting priorities straight and letting God’s promises be the anchor to withstand the temptations of the world.

All of these things are good and important. I would like to offer one other thing that this text might set up. When I look at the readings for the Lenten season I see a series of encounters with Christ. It begins in this story as the Devil encounters Christ. Next week we jump out of Matthew and into John and see four stories of encounters with Jesus: Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman, the blind man, and Lazarus, Mary and Martha. How might we focus on the power of encountering Christ in scripture, in each other, and in the world as we journey through Lent this year?

Narrative Lectionary Resources

John 11:1-44

This image is from the Come and See Version of John

The Narrative Lectionary takes us directly into the passion week for the Lenten journey. The text this week is the last stop in the book of signs. Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead and declares, “I am the resurrection and the life!” This final sign precipitated a huge stirring in the nearby city of Jerusalem. The next event is the triumphal entry, but the liturgical calendar wins over the narrative and we will save that for Palm Sunday. In the meantime, prepare your people to soak more deeply into the passion week than they may usually do in other years. Our Lenten journey is joining Jesus as he steps closer to the cross.

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